As we glance again on 2023, there have been loads of golf tales that made us suppose. Perhaps much more tales made us mad, however hey, that’s life. However on this post-Christmas/pre-New Yr’s lull, let’s take a break from considering and controversy.
Let’s simply really feel good.
So in that spirit, listed below are among the tales from the previous 12 months that made us smile and, we hope, put us in a feel-good mode as we prepare for 2024.
The Return of “Misplaced Manufacturers”
There’s a cause, mates, {that a} mid-’70s sitcom set within the ‘50s was known as Pleased Days. Nostalgia makes us really feel good.
In January, we noticed the return of legendary golf manufacturers we thought had been misplaced perpetually. Simon Millington’s Golf Manufacturers Ltd. led the cost by bringing again Ram, Zebra and the model as soon as often called The Best Title in Golf, MacGregor.
Different manufacturers that got here again in 2023 embrace Snake Eyes and PowerBilt however Ram, Zebra and MacGregor all had worth propositions that made you are taking discover. Ram FX77 irons could also be an open mannequin however they ranked second general for forgiveness in our 2023 Recreation Enchancment Iron check. Not unhealthy for under $400.
And MacGregor made the boldest comeback assertion of all with the completely pretty MT-86 and MT-86 OS solid irons.
And we wrapped up 2023 with information that Millington has additionally introduced again the Ben Hogan Golf Gear Firm. Hogan shut down for what we thought was the final time in the summertime of 2022 however that firm has gotten up off the mat extra occasions than Rocky Balboa.
And from what we’ve seen, every firm could have some fairly slick stuff in 2024.
The Return of “Misplaced Golfers”
Everybody loves an excellent redemption story and 2023 had greater than its share. The ever-popular Rickie Fowler was seemingly misplaced within the PGA Tour’s model of the witness safety program final 12 months. He hadn’t received since early 2019, dropping to 185th within the OWGR.However after rebuilding his swing with Butch Harmon, Rickie acquired his mojo again. He was within the last group on Sunday on the U.S. Open and returned to the winner’s circle in July on the Rocket Mortgage Traditional.
Former World No. 1 Jason Day took an excellent longer route again to the highest. Again illnesses, vertigo and different points sidetracked Day’s promising profession however he ended his personal victory drought by profitable the AT&T Byron Nelson Traditional in Could.
The on-course fortunes of Lucas Glover modified for the higher final June when the 2009 U.S. Open champ made a drastic tools change. After years of battling the yips, Lucas switched to a L.A.B. Golf Mezz putter with a broomstick shaft. After three straight top-10s in July, Glover scored back-to-back wins on the Wyndham and FedEx St. Jude championships.
Then there’s the lengthy path again traveled by Chris Kirk. Kirk received 4 tournaments between 2011 and 2015 however his profession took a extreme detour in 2019. That Could, Kirk introduced he was taking an “indefinite go away” from golf to cope with alcohol and despair points. This previous February, Kirk received his first match in eight years on the Honda Traditional. His comeback was made full in November when he was introduced with the PGA Tour Braveness Award.
The Return of “Pleased” Gilmore
No, not that Pleased Gilmore. We’re speaking about 17-year-old Landon Gilmore from Bloomington, Ind. Landon, after profitable a long-drive competitors when he was seven, earned the nickname “Pleased.”
This previous June Landon, a highschool senior, let the world know that “Pleased” could be enjoying school golf at Indiana’s Ball State College. Inside hours of posting the information on X, Gilmore was shocked to see the OG Pleased Gilmore, Adam Sandler, repost the announcement.
“My life is full,” Landon informed Golf Channel after seeing Sandler’s message. “I used to be speechless and didn’t actually know what to do with myself for a minute.”
Don’t suppose Landon is getting by simply on his nickname. He made the Indiana All-State golf group two years operating and was named participant of the 12 months in 2020 by the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour.
Landon tried to qualify for the 2023 U.S. Open. He was 16 over par within the native qualifier however revealed a Sandler-like humorousness by posting an image of his scorecard and asserting he’d utilized for a job on the snack bar.
Critically, how will you not pull for this child?
The Return of Tiger
Tiger Woods doesn’t transfer the needle. He’s the needle.
The golf world watched his return to aggressive golf on the Hero World Problem prefer it was the moon touchdown. However his shock go to to a bunch of HBCU (Traditionally Black School or College) golfers throughout a Bridgestone photograph shoot earns “Really feel Good” story standing.
ICYMI: Tiger Woods supplied perception to Prairie View A&M golfers on easy methods to excellent a mini draw.
Thanks Tiger Woods for paying it ahead! #SWACGOLF | #BuildingChampionsForLife pic.twitter.com/hs8duSxJmD
— Southwestern Athletic Convention (@theswac) December 24, 2023
The faculty children had been understandably flamboozled by getting instruction from the GOAT. Florida A&M Males’s Golf Coach Mike Rice informed HBCU GameDay that the expertise was bigger than life.
“Watching him work together with (my group) was simply superb to observe. He truly went over the time. His assistants informed him that he had one other occasion to attend and he informed them he would depart as soon as all of the gamers acquired their questions out of him and never earlier than.
“A star at that stage doing that exhibits you the significance he placed on the interplay with the gamers.”
The Return of “Spider-Man”
Ask any dad or mum about their largest concern and it’s all the time the well being and security of their kids. Camilo Villegas lived that nightmare in 2020 when his 22-month-old daughter misplaced her battle with mind most cancers.
Villegas and his spouse Maria began a basis of their daughter’s reminiscence. Mia’s Miracles provides monetary and emotional help to oldsters battling their kids’s sicknesses. And whereas professional golf offers us a lot to complain about, keep in mind that the PGA Tour confirmed Villegas and his spouse large help following Mia’s demise. After studying of Mia’s love of rainbows, the Tour gave gamers rainbow pins to put on on their caps within the occasions following her demise. It could sound like a small factor however for a grieving dad or mum realizing your friends have your again is immeasurable.
Villegas has been on Tour since 2006 and gained notoriety for his well-known “Spider-Man” technique of studying putts. However his profession skidded after profitable the Windham Championship in 2014. After shedding Mia, Villegas – together with his spouse’s help – processed his grief by reconnecting with golf.
This previous November, Villegas scored his first victory in 9 years, profitable the Butterfield Bermuda Championship with a final-round 65.
“Robust to place into phrases. What a trip,” Villegas was quoted by Golf Digest after his victory. “I really like this recreation. It’s given me so many nice issues however, within the course of, it kicks your butt.”
You may donate to help Mia’s Miracles right here.
And One Last Really feel Good …
It was type of unimaginable to overlook this one on social media. However this video of two airport employees engaged on their golf swings on the tarmac nonetheless makes me smile.
Two dudes I utterly belief to verify the golf equipment get on and off the airplane safely pic.twitter.com/QeevZyZgOy
— W (@ZitiDoggsGolf) December 13, 2023
Yeah, the man on the proper sways just a little and the man on the left must get his decrease half into the swing. However regardless of the whole lot we needed to cope with in 2023, it’s good to keep in mind that golf continues to be a recreation.
And video games are purported to be enjoyable. And enjoyable feels good.
Right here’s to extra enjoyable in 2024, GolfSpies. Could your New Yr be full of birdies and will you lastly rating that elusive first hole-in-one. I do know mine is coming!
